Chicot Lake

Size: 1,642 acres

Maximum Depth: 14 feet

Public Piers available: 2

Public Access Boat Launches Available: 3

Artificial Reefs: Reefs near the south fishing pier

Common Fishing Species: Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish.

Activities Available:

Fun Fact

The lake is within Chicot State Park. There are numerous people that visit the park to hike, camp, visit the arboretum and of course fish. The lake has been stocked with Florida largemouth bass from 1988 to present totaling 2,767,409. The largest bass caught was 13.53 pounds.

Pearl River Wildlife Management area

Acreage: 35,619 acres

Location: Pearl River WMA is located about 6 miles east of Slidell and about 1 mile east of the town of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish along the Louisiana-Mississippi border.

How to Get There: You can access the WMA by vehicle from Old Highway 11 and by boat from ramps located on and around the WMA. Boat launches are located along U.S. Highway 90 at White Kitchen, Middle River, and East Pearl River, as well as Davis and Crawford landings.

Owner: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Habitat Types: The forest cover varies from an all age hardwood stand in the northern 45 percent of the WMA, to cypress tupelo in the middle 35 percent and intermediate marsh in the southern 20 percent.

Popular Game Species: Available game species include white-tailed deer, squirrel, rabbit, waterfowl, snipe and woodcock.

How to Enjoy: In addition to regular hunting seasons, there are also youth deer and squirrel seasons as well as youth and general turkey lottery hunts. Trapping is available for furbearers, including beaver, nutria, mink, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, coyote and bobcat.

There are numerous streams and bayous, intermediate marsh, and the river itself on Pearl River WMA available for fishing, crawfishing, canoeing and boating. There are also several ponds on the northern end of the WMA along Interstate 59.

Camping is available at Crawford Landing.

Activities Available:

Shooting Range

Pearl River WMA also has the Honey Island Shooting Range, which is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. To get to the Honey Island Shooting Range from Slidell, take Interstate 59 north about five miles from the intersection of I-10 and I-59. After you cross the West Pearl River Bridge get off at exit 5B. Keep left and follow the signs for about three miles to the Honey Island Shooting Range. If you are coming from the north, take exit 5B before the bridge, turn left at the stop sign, loop around under the I-59 bridge, and follow the road into the Pearl River WMA.

Shooting opportunities include a rifle range, rim-fire and pistol range, shotgun range with electronic throwers and a 3-D archery range.

Additional Information

Chicot Lake

For more information contact:

5652 Hwy 182

Opelousas, LA 70570

337-948-0255

www.wlf.la.gov/fishing/waterbody-management-plans-inland

Pearl River WMA

For more information contact the Hammond field office at 985-543-4781

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma/2789